Written By Srimathi Mani on Saturday, August 23, 2008 | 11:31 AM

Happy Janmastami! Krishna Jayanthi! Gokulastami!

The birth of Krishna is celebrated grandly everywhere. On this day I like to post on what Krishna enjoyed and loved the most: Butter. In India churning to make home made butter is very common.They made buttermilk and butter from the malai, or cream, from yogurt. In America, we cannot make butter out of the normal 2% or whole milk available. However,with the yogurt made from the cream on top milk available at Trader Joe's, butter and buttermilk can be prepared. This is because the milk is pasteurized but not homogenized. Using one of the blender attachments that is like a saucer, butter can be churned. This butter is so fresh and delicious just like the way I believe Krishna would have loved.

So why is butter an offering to Krishna during Gokulastami? Myth has it that the offering of butter symbolizes the love of Radha and Krishna. Just like the butter does not wash off from your hands, Radha and Krishna's love for each other is everlasting. They are inseparable.

Gadgets:

Blender/Mixie
Attachment for making butter
Bowl

Ingredients:

Cream from the top of home made yogurt/yogurt - 1 cups cold
Water - 2 cups

Preparation:

1. Mix water and yogurt cream in the blender and keep buzzing.

2. Initially froth would form on top and then change to butter.

3. Transfer the butter and butter milk to a bowl and make a ball out of butter.

4. In another bowl add water and put the ball of butter in it. It will wash away all the buttermilk and only the clean butter would remain.